Dan Hubbard, CTO for the security research outfit, describes the visualization as representing relationships between domains in Cryptolocker attacks and how the malware ripples across networks. As ransomware, Cryptolocker encrypts victims' files and then the extortionists behind it demand payment to release the data.

The visualization is "not only visually stunning, but useful from a research perspective," Hubbard writes in a blog post.

Umbrella has built the visualization by taking advantage of a Big Data-based system that categorizes and blocks Cryptolocker based on relationships between domains (Umbrella is associated with OpenDNS, which offers DNS resolution services).

Bob Brown is a news editor for Network World, blogs about network research, and works most closely with our staff's wireless/mobile reporters. Email me at bbrown@nww.com with story tips or comments on this post.